The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Water Project

  • Ogoni stakeholders seek probe of collapsed water project in Rivers

    Ogoni stakeholders seek probe of collapsed water project in Rivers

    Stakeholders under the auspices of the Greater Ogonis in Diaspora Organisation (GODO) have called for a transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the collapse of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) water facility barely four days after its inauguration.

    The President of the group, Chief Ambrose Kii, in a statement issued to mark the 30th anniversary of Ken Saro-Wiwa’s martyrdom, insisted that the contractor that handled the project must be at the centre of the investigation.

    Kii warned against the practice of awarding contracts to politicians, family members, and cronies, saying they were fond of diverting public funds and executing substandard projects.

    He appealed to communities to take ownership of government projects executed in their domains, adding that such projects were funded by their sweat and taxpayers’ money.

    Read Also: Rivers Assembly probes Renaissance Energy’s alleged neglect of oil spills in community

    He urged residents to speak out and report any form of shoddy work, corner-cutting, or violations of safety and professional standards.

    He said, “Communities must embrace citizens’ journalism to hold contractors accountable. Stop demanding ‘marching ground’, stipends, or so-called support from contractors. Each time you do so, you sell your right to question wrongdoing”.

    Kii also called on the United Nations to officially declare November 10 as Ken Saro-Wiwa Day, in honour of the late environmental rights activist and human rights crusader.

    He further appealed to the Federal Government and the Rivers State Government to declare November 10 a public holiday.

    He said, “Ken Saro-Wiwa fought a greater battle against military dictatorship — a struggle that drew international attention and laid the moral foundation for the democracy we are enjoying in Nigeria today. He deserves to be remembered, exonerated, immortalized, and celebrated as a true hero of our nation.”

  • Army sites water project in Sambisa Forest

    Army sites water project in Sambisa Forest

    The Army has  drilled a bore hole in Sambisa Forest to enhance water supply to troops and communities in the area as part of efforts to make the forest habitable.

    The project,according to Brigadier-Gen. Sani Kukasheka, the Director, Army Public Relations,  is also part of the ongoing clearance operation to root out the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents.

    Kukasheka said in a statement in Maiduguri that the bore hole was in addition to road rehabilitation projects to facilitate infrastructural development in the forest and adjourning communities.

    “The Nigeria army is continuing with its clearance operation against the Boko Haram terrorists and making Sambisa Forest fit for lawful activities,” he said.

    “The Nigerian Army is further consolidating on the successes of Operation DEEP PUNCH II by troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, through infrastructural development.

    “The army has constructed a borehole at the cleared insurgents’ strong hold ‘Sabil Huda’ camp in Sambisa forest to enhance access to safe drinking water to the troops.

    “Apart from reducing logistic effort of conveying water from one point to another by the troops, the water project will also assist the adjoining communities.”

    The army had earlier embarked on the  of Gwoza to Yamtake to Bita to Tokumbere to Sambisa roads.

    The road is expected to  open up the forest and link adjourning communities.

  • ‘Why we invested $2m in water project’

    ‘Why we invested $2m in water project’

    The $2 million in-vestment by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Coca-Cola Company to support a new programme under the Water and Development Alliance (WADA) project for Cross River State, aligned with  tehir focus on clean water as a means to help build healthy, sustainable communities in Nigeria, Acting U.S. Consul-General in Lagos, William Steuer, has said.

    Speaking on the sideline of the signing in Lagos, Steuer said the project will provide up to 100,000 citizens in Cross River State with access to safe drinking water and good sanitation facilities by 2019.

    “The U.S. government is committed to engaging in effective and innovative alliances with committed partners to support Nigeria’s critical development needs,” he said, adding, “we are proud to collaborate with Coca-Cola to bring a sustainable and safe water solution to thousands of people in Nigeria.”

    At the event, USAID Director to Nigeria, Mr. Michael T. Harvey said: “Today, we are consolidating a special partnership, one in which a private firm has joined with a U.S. Government Agency to contribute to a priority set by the Government of Nigeria.”

    He said USAID and Coca Cola have collaborated in Nigeria since 2007, and the partnership has improved water resource management and expanded sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation services in Kano and Enugu states.

    It was learnt that WADA project helps to control and prevent water-related diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea by providing water and sanitation services, hygiene education, and establishing water, environment, and sanitation committees in communities where the project works.

    This new agreement will provide a framework to implement WADA and to allow the parties establish a range of policy issues to achieve their shared objectives in Nigeria.

  • Joy in community as water project starts

    Joy in community as water project starts

    The people of Abam community in Arochukwu Local Government Area have expressed their delight at the take-off of a water project in their locality which was promised them by the federal lawmaker representing the area.

    For years, clean water was very difficult to find in the community, the reason the lawmaker representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon Uko Nkole promised to help.

    That promise is yielding fruit. The site for the water project has been ticking with activity. Some equipment, including a giant rig, have been installed there.

    Abam people including such other communities as Ndiokereke, Ndioji, Ndiokorie are happy, relieved that after years of beglect, they could smile again.

    Lack of this precious liquid left them sickly and quite unkempt sometimes, for all they had to drink was not much more than stream water.

    The situation necessitated an action plan by the federal legislator who mobilised contractors to commence drilling of boreholes at the various communities.

    This was after a hydrological survey indicates that it is possible to bring water to these areas at the depth of 550 feet using rigging machine, which has commenced to the joy of the people.

    This water project has an estimated cost of more than ten million naira considering the enormous mat erials and equipment deployed to the site that include tanks, manpower, amongst others.

    According to the project supervisor Okenwa Kalu Eleanya, all the necessary logistics have been taken into consideration by the federal legislator. Hon Nkole and promised to deliver the job in the shortest time.

    The traditional ruler of Ndiokereke Abam, Micah kanu and union Chairman, Chukwuma Egbuta thanked the federal legislator for the efforts and hinted that the project site would be well secured.

    This is the first time in the history of Abam Community that such magnitude of water project is being installed, the nearest to water project was a hand-pump which was sunk over 50 years ago.

  • Water project excites community

    It was a special day for the children of Madonna School for Special Needs in Okpanam suburban Asaba-the Delta State Capital, as a philanthropic organisation, The International League of Friends (ILOF) commissioned a borehole project penultimate weekend.

    It was a carnival of sorts as students of the school added colour to the occasion with a rendition of the school’s anthem by its dance troupe, a morally instructive drama sketch was presented to the small audience that graced the event.

    Music wafted softly from a corner with the students and guests seated under canopies in the serene surroundings of the school and visibly happy children, clad in yellow shirts and royal blue shorts, entertained with their carefully choreographed dance routines.

    ILOF is a social club founded on the noble ideals of promoting charitable works and rendering selfless assistance to the less privileged in the Nigerian society.

    The social club founded six years ago has presence in Nigeria including the U.K, USA and Canada has embarked on several projects and awareness sessions aimed at improving the living conditions of the less privileged ones in our society.

    Madonna Schools for Special Needs is a receipt of a commitment made by members at the ILOF 2014 Annual Conference which held in Asaba to intervene in two special needs school in the environ. The Centre for Autism and Developmental Disabilities was presented with a 7.2 KVA generating plant.

    President of ILOF, Dr Rowland Okolo in a speech at the occasion expressed happiness at meeting the needs of the school and urged government to provide basic amenities especially among the less privileged.

    According to him the club solicited financial assistance from well-meaning individuals thus ensuring the project was completed ahead of schedule.

    He said the project consists of a water borehole, metal stands, overhead tanks and laying pipes to connect the hostels.

    School Administrator, Reverend Sister Florence Igoche, praised ILOF for coming to their aid, stressing that several unsuccessful efforts had been put into provision of potable water for students.

    Igoche said the population of the school was 300, stressing that the rising students population has placed strain on basic infrastructure in the school.

    She urged well-meaning individuals and groups to assist in meeting some needs which include construction of male hostel, classrooms, dining hall, libraries and completion and equipping of a vocational centre.

    Her words: “We have several challenges here, ahead there is an uncompleted building. It is our wish that that building be completed .The secondary section is sharing classroom, the nursery section have taken part of the administrative section. Our children already have a lot of distractions and they face further when they share classrooms. We need another male dormitory as the old one have been completely filled up.

    “We do not have a dining hall so when we share food to them, they eat anywhere therefore the training in table etiquette is lacking. You will agree with me that children with developmental problems, especially those with behaviour problem that we need to train are not adequately trained in that area of life. This could make them socially unacceptable even after leaving the school. We also need libraries. Some of our children from poor backgrounds we need vocational training, many of these students are unlikely to secure employment therefore they need other skills to help them.’

    Igoche noted that the physically challenged children make up about 70% of the students population while autistic children and other with mobility problems make up 15%.Normal children make up only 15 % of the student body.

    She expressed regret that the school is unable to cater for children with complete blindness partly due to gullies and undulating surface within the school and a lack of teaching aids.

    Her words, ‘The school is a complex one.The normal children is 15% and from indigent families, those with hearing handicap make up 70%, the others have neuro-developmental problems or autistic .We also have those on wheel chair and other mobility problem. The only category we do not have here is complete blindness this is because of the undulating surfaces, gullies within the school precincts’.

    The highpoint of the occasion was the inauguration of the water project by the HRH Michael Mbanefo, Oduani of Okpanam Kingdom supported by eminent dignitaries, including Chairman, Board of Directors, Diamond Bank PLC, Chris Ogbechie.

     

     

     

  • AfDB okays $26m for water project

    AfDB okays $26m for water project

    The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has allocated a loan and a grant amounting to $25.995 million dollars to finance a water project in Mahe in the Seychelles.

    The Mahe Sustainable Water Augmentation Project (MSWAP) approved by the AfDB Board on Wednesday, April 1, this year in Abidjan, seeks to promote the country’s economic development by improving water supply capacity and resilience against climate change.

    The project aims at achieving the Seychelles 2008-2030 Water Development Plan (SWDP) target supported by the African Water Facility (AWF), which is hosted and managed by AfDB. Currently, the country can only meet about 60 per cent of its potable water needs due to limited storage capacity, increased demand for housing construction, and water losses along the network.

    Water shortages are common in Mahe, the Seychelles’ largest island, especially during the dry seasons when water rationing is enforced. The project would: (a) Improve water supply services through reduction of the number of days when water is rationed; and (b) Increase water production capacity to cover areas in the island’s northern region.

    The project is anchored in the country’s Medium Term National Development Strategy 2013-2017 (MTNDS). The strategy focuses on strengthening the foundations of economic growth; improving the quality of life; and ensuring environmental sustainability.

    It is in line with the bank’s adjusted Seychelles 2011-2015 Country Strategy Paper (CSP), which focuses on infrastructure development, concentrating solely on the water infrastructure sub-sector.

    The CSP is keen on enhancing the country’s water storage capacity, allowing it to better respond to climatic variability and the increasing water demand. It will also help to promote economic growth by reducing overreliance on desalination and improving social development by increasing access to water and sanitation. The Bank’s intervention will also contribute to greater diversification and competitiveness of the Seychelles economy.

    Direct beneficiaries of the project are the water users on the island of Mahe whose demand is projected to increase by 130 per cent by 2030. Domestic, industrial and touristic use, which currently accounts for 36 per cent, 11 per cent and five per cent of the total water demand, are expected to increase by 140 per cent, 400 per cent and 190 per cent. The main impact of the project will be the improvement in quality of life and reliability of water services for household, industrial, commercial activities and tourism, especially in the dry seasons.

    The funding comprises $20.60 million ADB loan and $1.40 million grant from the Middle Income Country Technical Assistance Fund. The Seychelles government will provide the remaining $3.995 million.

  • Evbuotubu prays for completion of Storm Water Project

    Evbotubu Iguediayi Community in Egor Local Government Area in Edo State could be accessed either through Owina, Ekehaun or Siluko roads in Benin City, the state capital. It is a boundary community between Oredo and Ovia North-East Local Government Areas.

    It is one of the satellite towns in the state and is expected to expand as population increase in the urban. Areas. However that dreams is being stymied by poor access roads leading in and out of the community.

    Residents of the area usually pray for the dry harmattan season to come early because it is the time when they are able to heave a sighs of relief from their difficult terrain. Niger Delta Report gathered that driving in and out of the community is a difficult task because all the roads leading to and from the community are in a bad state. During the raining season, it is takes dexterity and good knowledge of the ditches and ‘pools’ on the road to reach the community.

    Two major roads leading to the community from Benin City, the state capital and Iguobazuwa and other towns have collapsed. The perennial flooding and lack of access roads have also made it difficult for farmers in Evbuotubu to convey their farm produces to the markets. Apart from the major roads, all other link roads are impassable. Last year, the chairman of the local council, Mr Victor Enobakhare, released N500,000 to the community leaders. The money was used to provide temporary relief for the embattled community. It was gathered that fund was deployed to grade and sands fill three earth road and streets. The relief didn’t last long as the first two rains of the season washed away the effort.

    A residents in the area who gave his name as Sam said “government has abandoned the Community for a long time. When the Comrade Governor came on board 2008, he visited the Community and promise to fix the major road leading to the Community but that promise has not been fulfilled as we are still expecting him to do so”.

    However, our checks showed that the N30bn Storm Water project currently being done by the state government would helped solve the perennial flooding problems in the locality. Besides, the major roads leading the community are to be tarred upon the completion of the gigantic project.

    Government sources said Governor Adams Oshiomhole preferred to tackle the problem with a lasting solution rather than fall prey to past experiences when the roads are done but are soon washed away due to the perrenial flooding in the area. “It is better to treat the ailment rather than the symptoms”, our source stated.

    The Storm Water project is expected to tackle flooding and erosion problems not only at Evbuotubu but also at Upper Siluko, Uwelu, Uwasota, Adolo and its environs. Already, the flooding experienced at the notorious Teacher’s House axis at Upper Siluko has disappeared while over 50 landlords that abandoned their houses many years ago within the vicinity may soon return home due to the improved condition brought about by the project.

    Chairman of Evbuotubu Community Development Association, Mr. Sunday Osaro Evbonaye said government attention was also needed to repair many other deplorable link roads within the community, which were ravaged by years of constant exposure to flood water.

    He disclosed that that community added N3.5m to the N500,000 given to them by the local authorities for grading of earth roads. Mr. Osaro Evbonaye said cars given to youths of the community as part of youth empowerment have already broken down due to the bad road.

    He said the poor state of the roads contributed to developers’ unwillingness to acquire land in the community adding that plans were under way to open up an abattoir and a burrowed pit in the community with a view to creating employment opportunity.

    However, a top government functionary who spoke with our reporter on telephone, explained that the stae governor was determined to fulfill his promise to the people of Evbuotubu, stressing that the community is part of suburbs that would be changed by the multibillion naira project.